Device for manipulating the locking-pins of car-couplings.



W. RMURPHY. DEVICE FOR MANIPULATING THE LOOKING PINS OF CAR COUPLINGS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 13, 1914.

' 1,118,948. I Patented."Dec.1;1914.

2 SHBETSSHEET 1.

WITNESSES.-

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- 1 18% ORNEYS I W. P. MURPHY. DEVICE FOR MANIPULATING THE LOOKING PINS orv CAR COUPLINGS.

1 APPLICATION FILED 12.13, i914. 1,1 18,948.

Patented Deefl, 1914.

2 slums-SHEET 2.

i IVENTORi fi m A TTORNEYS WALTER P. MURPHY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

' DEVICEJEOR MANIPULATING THE LOCKING-1 1N805 CAR-COUPLINGS.

osses. v

Specification of Letters Patent.

llzrtonted 1i,

Application filed AprillS. 191%. Serial No. 831,579.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it'known that I, VVAL'rnn' l. Murmur, a citizen of the United States residing at I Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Manip ulating the Locking-Pins of Car-Couplers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a device for manipulating the locking pin or equivalent element of a car coupler from a position of safety remote from the coupler, for example, from the side "of the car;

It has been customary to construct devices of this general class of two members, one passing through the eye of the locking pin of the coupler, or otherwise suitably connected therewith, the other provided with a manipulating. part or. handle, the members having a loose connectionor joint between them which is intended to allow the coupler its normal movements without disturbing the locking pin. One-piece uncoupling devices have also been used to a certain extent, these devices consisting ordinarily of a rod revolubly mounted on the end 01 the car with the inner end bent to form a crank which is engaged with the locking pin and the outer end provided with an angularly disposed handle. From the point of view of strength, simplicity and economy of con.- struction and durability, the one pieceun coupling device issupe'riorto the two-piece device. It has this disadvantage, however, that when the locking pin is in lock-sot position. in certain switching operations for example,

the handle is raised from its normal ver-f ticalposition along side the end of the car to a horizontal or angular position. In this position it presents an objectionable obstruction between the cars and. fur-then more, tends, by its weight and leverage. to make the lock setting of the pin unstable The objection to the ordinary one-piece uncoupling lever did not apply at the time when chains were uscd for connecting: thr locking pin to the lovers since if a chain of any considerable length be interposed between the locking pin and the lover. the lever will be uuiableot return to its normal position,- or ncarlys a l'tcr the pin hashccn loch-set. But the use ot a chain in this connection is very undesirable and has been copdcmucd and forbidden by the authorities.

My invention has for its primary object to provide an uncoupling mechanism utilizing a single operating member which may be engaged directly with the coupler locking pin, for example, may extend through the eye thereof, and which is so mounted on the car as to allow the coupler its necessary normal movements without disturbance of the locking pin and so that in the loci-1 set position of the locking pin the handle portion of the operating member will, or can be made to, assume the same position, or substantially the same position which it occupies with the pin in looking position, for example, a substantially vertical position close to the car sill.

The invention has for a further ob provide a. new and improved device nianipulating he locking pin of car "ouplers which will be simple in its construction in expensive to manufacture, readily appl cable to the car on which it is used ai which can be employed, with possible slight adaptations, within the capacity of any mechanic, to'manipulate the locking pin or equivalent element of any of the standard types of car couplers now in use.

"lhe invention is illustrated, in rtain preferred embodiments, in the accompanying drawings whereinliigure 1 shows a plan view of an uncoupling mechanism constructed in accordance with the invention, the mechanism being shown as applied to the end of a freight car for manipulating the locking pin of coupler oi the type in which the pin is raised to free the knuckle. Fig. dis a view, in elevation, of the same apparatus; Figs. 3 and -l. perspective views of the outer and inner hearing members respectively, 4, on which the operating, element or lever is sustained: Fig. a side elevation of the apparatus showing the coupler pin in looking position; Fig. (3, a simila; view showing the pin raised to free the knuckle; Fig. 7, a s mi ar view. but with certain parts of the coupler in section, illustrating the position whi h the uncoupling lever assumes when the locking pin is in locloset position; Fig. a Sltll view of a modified form of appa rains. and Fifi. ll, :1 similar view illustrating anothvr modification.

lliilic chara ters of reference dcsignale lilo:- :ilir;i in the several figures of the drawings.

lrielerring first to l to 7 incl usive,

designates the head of the coupler, 11 the knuckle and 12 the locking pin which in lock-set position (Fig. 7) rests upon a shoulder 13. The operating element of the uncoupling mechanism consists preferably of a rod 14 formed at its inner end with a crank '15 which is suitably engagedwith the locking pin 12. For example, it may extend through the eye 16 formed in the upper end of the pin; the outer end of the rod 14 bein bentso as to rovide an angularly dispose handle 17. T e rod or lever 14: is supported on the end of the car 18 by an outer bearing i'nel'nber= 19 and. an inner bearing member 20. The former consists preferably of a plate suitably formed for attachment to the car by means, for example, of bolts 21 rovided with a forked =POI1Z10I1 22 to revolu ly support'the rod 14 and with a stop plate 23 which serves to keep therod from longitudinal displacement- The u rights of the fork 22 have their inner sur aces 2 1 rounded, referably, so that the rod may rock in ring with the in and out movements ol the cou er. The rod may be kept in positlon in t e fork 22 by means of any suitable retainingdevice, such as the cotter pin Qfl'shOWn-inthe drawings. The inner hearing member 20-consists of a suitable attaching osition. To raise the pin so as to free the tickle-the handle 17 is lifted to the ositionsliown'in'Fig. 6. If it is desired to och-set the pin this may be done, in the particular-ty e of coupler shown for the purpose of il ustratin the invention. by giving the lever a slight inward shift on its bearing 26, which may be brought about by lifting the handle 17 a trifle so that the end of the pin will engage the shoulder 13. When this engagement is brought about the uncoupling lever, if released, will revolve axially on the outer'bearing 22 and on the bearing provided at the crank end of the lever by t e pin 12, the part of the lever supported on the arm 26 being raised therefrom and the handle 17 dropping down to the normal vertical position, as shown in Fig. 7 that is, substantially the same position which the handle occupies when the coupler pin is in the locking position. The above stated operation assumes a proper balancing of the lever whereby ravity will bring about the desired result. ven if the lever is not conaway from the car as shown at 26 in Fig. 8, This figure shows the parts in the position which they will assume when the locking pin is lock-set, and just before, by release or pushing upon the handle 17, the device rocks away from the inner hearing. If the slant of the upper surface of bearing member 26! were sufficiently sharp an outward movement of the coupler would disturb the locking pin 12. With the trifling slant sufficient to accomplish the result desired, there is no danger of disturbing the pin particularly if' the eye of the pin 16 is elongated a little as shown in the drawings.

Fig. 9 illustrates another modification. In this construction, which is otherwise the same as that previously described, the inner bearing consists of a slotted bearing member 27 which is pivoted at 28 to a clevis 29 on the end of the car. When the portion of the uncoupling lever which passes through the slotted bearing member 27 is raised after the coupler pin has been lock set, the bearing member will turn on its pivot 28 rising with the lever.

While I have described my inventionin.

the principle of the invention. Therefore I I certain preferred embodiments, modifications in the form and construction of the parts might be made. without departure from do not wish to be. understood as limiting the invention to the exact constructions, ar-- rangements and devices shown and described except so far as certain of the claims herein are so limited by their express language.

The lever in the coupler which is moved by the uncoupling lever has been termed in the claims a locking pin. The term is not intended to be used in a narrow signification but is intended to cover any movable device or part or parts, the function of which is to lock or hold in operative position the knuckle of the coupler.

I claim:

1. The combination with a car'coupler having a locking pin formed with an eye, of a device for manipulating said pin comprising a rodformcd at one end with an angu-- larlv disposed handle and at the other with a crank portion extending through the eye of said pin, a bearing to support the rod adjacent the handle, and a bearin intermediate said first named bearing and the crank portion of the rod providing a fulcrum for which the rod can slide to and from the car and which permits the rod to revolve axially on said first named bearing and the locking pin when the pin isin lock set position to allow said handle to return to sub-- stantially the place which it occupies when the pin is in looking position,

2. The combination with a car coupler having a locking pin formed with an eye, of a device for manipulating said pin cenr prising arod formed at one end with an angularly disposed handle and at the other with a crank portion extending through the eye of said pin, a bearing to support the rod adjacent the handle, and an elongated hearing having an upward slant away from the carintermediate said first named. bearing and the crank portion of the rod providing a fulcrum for the rod during the pin lifting operation on which the rod can slide to and from the car and which permits the mod to revolve axially on said first named bearing and the locking pin when the pin is in look. set position to allow said handle to return to substantially the place which it occupies when the pin is in locking position.

3. The combination with a car coupler having a locking pin formed with an eye, of a' device for manipulating said pin comprising an operating element having a crank portion extending through the eye of said pin,-and an singularly disposed manipulating portion, and bearings for said element which permit said element to revolve axially on one of said bearings and said pin when the pin is inloch set position so that the manipulating portion of said element may assume substantially the same position with said locking pin in either locking or locle set positiom 4. A device for manipulating the locking pin of a car coupler crnnprising a rod adapted to in'in'iediate y engage said locking pin and formed at one and with an angularly disposed handle, an outer bearing on the car for re'volubly sustaining said rod, and means adjacent the point of engagement of the rod with said locking pin providing a fulcrum for the rod during the pin lifting operation which permits the rod to revoli'e axially supported on said'bearing and locking pin when the pin is in lock-set position.

5. A device for manipulating the locking pin of a car coupler comprising a rod formed with a crank adapted to immediately engage said locking pin and with an angularly disposed handle, and a retaining device for revolubly supporting the handle end of the rod; the rod being free to revolve axially on i the points of engagement with the pin and said retaining device, for the purpose dcscribed.

6. A device for manipulating the locking pin of a car coupler comprisingarod formed with a cranl: adapted to immediately said locking pin and with an angularly disposed handle, a retaining device for revolubly supporting the handle and of the rod and means constituting a bearing for the rod intermediate said locking; pin and said rcraining device; said rod being free to turn from said intermediate bearing on its points of engagement with said locking pin and said retaining device.

7. A. device for manipulating the locking pin of a car coupler comprisingarod formed with a crank adapted to engage said locking pin and with an angularly dis used handle, a retaining device for revolubly supporting thehan le end oi' the rod, and means constituting an elongated. bearing intermediate said locking pin and said retaining device on which the rod is slidahlc to and from the car; said rod being: free to tu n. away from said intermediate bearing on s points of engagement with said locking pin and said retaining device.

8. A. device for manipulating the locking pin of a car coupler comprising a rod formed with a crank adapted to engage said locking pin and with an angularly disposed handle, a retaining device for revolubly supporting the handle end of the rod, and means constituting an eloi'lgated bearing slanting upwardly in the direction away from the car and intermediate said locking pin and said retaining device on which the rod is slidahle to and from the car; said rod being free to turn away from said intermediate bearing on its points of engagement with said locking pin and said retaining device.

9. A device for rnanip'ulatinp a the locking pin of a car coupler comprising a revoluble operating rod adapted to be engaged with the locking pin oi the coupler and formed at its outer end with an. angularly disposed handle. and a ri-wtaining device For the handle end of said rod formed with a bifurcated portion in which said rod is revolubly sustained. and a stop plate arranged outwardly oi the bend between said rod and its handle.

10. A: device rmma nipulatinf: the locking} pin of a car coupler COllll'll'lSlllgu rod Formed at one cndwitli, a crank adapted to engage the locking pin of a coupler and at the other with an angularly disposed handle, a retaininp; device tor revolublv supporting the handle end oi said rod. and a bearing member arranged adiaccnt said crank comprising an attaching plate and an outwardly proiccti'ng arm with the upper surfaciof which said rod has a sliding'engagement.

11. The comb nation with a, c: r coupler having a loclcirn pin formed with an eye, of an end coupling rod formed at onev end with a. crank extending through the eye of said pin and at the other with an angularly disposed handle. a retaininii device tor the handle end of said rod consisting; of an attachin Plate formed with a. fork in' which said r6 1s revolubly sustained and with a, stop plate arranged outwardly of the bend between said rod and its handle, and a bearing 5 member for slidably supporting the portion vof the rod adjacent said crank com rising an attaching plate having an outwai 1y pro:

nuem jecting arm on the upper surface of which said rod bears.

' L. A. FALKENBERG, H. MLGILLESPIE. 

